Heads up Granite State Gardeners, looks like a late Nor'easter is heading our way! 🌬🌧 Although freezing/frost temperatures aren't in the forecast, we will be looking at some below-normal temperatures leading up to Memorial Day (which is the conservative estimate for last frost date in central NH.) 🍅🫑🥒 Transplants - especially those warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and squash - really don't appreciate cool temperatures or cold, wet soil. Night (or day!) temps. below 50°F can stress these plants out, slow their growth, or even stunt them permanently. For soil temperatures, these tender plants prefer 60°F or higher, for which none of NH is seeing right now! 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘁, here's how to keep them safe until things warm up (likely after Memorial Day): - Harden off plants coming out from indoors when conditions are right - the idea is to gradually transition them to the outdoor environment. Ideally, it's a 10-14 day process before the last average frost date, when temps. are at least 45°F with minimal wind. When done right, even warm-season plants can tolerate a little dip in temperatures. - Keep seedlings and potted plants indoors or sheltered for the next few days for protection. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀: - Use floating row cover (spun-bonded or clear plastic,) tarps, or even upside-down buckets over individual plants, or constructed frames with burlap or fencing material to serve as wind and rainbreaks for established plants. - Pile up extra mulch around the base of plants to offer extra insulation from the cold. See links in the comments for more advice on hardening transplants! (fb)

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